蝶ちょう番つがい

also: ちょうばん

ちょ

う

つ

が

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

hinge

General term for a hinge, such as on a door or lid. In the construction industry, 丁番 (ちょうばん) is especially common.

ドアの蝶ちょう番つがいがきしむので油あぶらをさした。

The door hinge was squeaking, so I oiled it.

この棚たなの蝶ちょう番つがいはステンレス製せいだ。

The hinges on this shelf are made of stainless steel.

2

noun

anatomical joint

Only with reading ちょうつがい

Used especially for anatomical joints, such as the elbow or knee. Restricted to the reading ちょうつがい.

肘ひじの蝶ちょう番つがいを痛いためてしまった。
I hurt my elbow joint.

Kanji

蝶butterfly
番turn, number in a series
丁street, ward, town

Related words

ヒンジ
蝶番 is the traditional Japanese word for a hinge, while ヒンジ is the newer loanword from English used especially in technical or product contexts.

Written forms

蝶番Usage72%
- ちょうつがい
  Standard kanji spelling for the reading ちょうつがい. Also read ちょうばん, especially in construction contexts.
- ちょうばん
ちょうつがいUsage17%
蝶ちょうつがいUsage8%
search-only kanji form
Search-only form; つがい is written in kana.
チョウツガイUsage2%
丁ちょう番ばん
Common spelling in the construction industry for the reading ちょうばん.
ちょうばん

Etymology

Compound of 蝶 (ちょう, 'butterfly') and 番 (つがい, 'pair' or 'coupling'), referring to the two-part, wing-like structure of a hinge. The reading ちょうばん is a later variant using the on'yomi of 番.